Breeders' Cup Picks: Breeders' Cup Classic Preview

The Breeders' Cup Classic is the Bionic event, it's the $6 million race (older folks will remember the Steve Austin, six-million-dollar man reference - for the rest of you watch this). Back then, it seemed like so much money.

The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I horse race for 3-year-olds and older. This year's version will be run on Churchill dirt for 1 1/4 miles. Post time is slated for 5:44 p.m. Louisville, Kentucky time on Saturday, November 3, 2018.

A little history before we get to the horses. The inaugural version ran in 1984 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. The park closed in December 2013 - sad. The list of winners is a who's who of race horses, names like American Pharoah, Zenyatta, Curlin, Cigar, Sunday Silence... we could go on, but you get the drift.

For horse racing enthusiasts, the Breeders' Cup Classic is considered the fourth leg of the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Classic. It's prize money of $6 million is one of the richest in the world.

Enough with the history and backstory, let's move to the main contenders.

Accelerate

Current Future Odds 2-1*

Jockey: Joel RosarioTrainer: John Sadler

In his last race, Accelerate won the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. He got off to a slow start after acting up a touch in the gate. Accelerate ran 4th in the opening quarter, trailing by three. Not much changed for the five-year-old by the 1/2 mile marker, still running fourth by 3.5 lengths.

He went three-wide, battling neck-and-neck with two others in the stretch before pulling away for the victory.

Catholic Boy

Current Future Odds 5-1*

Jockey: Javier CastellanoTrainer: Jonathan Thomas

Catholic Boy was last seen on the track at Saratoga, winning the Grade 1 $1,250,000 Travers Stakes (we had him as one of our top picks). He went off as the third favorite at post time. Breaking sharply from the 11 post, Catholic Boy was near the front all the way around the 1 1/4 mile race.

He ran second for the first mile, engaging the leader, Mendelssohn, before racing away to win by four. If he repeats his Travers performance, he'll be one to watch.

Mendelssohn

Current Future Odds 5-1*

Jockey: Ryan MooreTrainer: Aidan O'Brien

Mendelssohn was the most expensive horse at the 2016 Keeneland yearling-sale, fetching a cool $3 million. He started his career in Ireland, finishing eight in his debut before wearing the crown in race number two.

Mendelssohn made his name winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. His next big score came at the 2018 UAE Derby, winning by a Secretariat like 18.5 lengths. The stunning, visual victory made him one of the early 2018 Kentucky Derby favorites. Ah, but he finished 70 lengths behind winner Justify after being pulled up by jockey Ryan Moore.

He's finished in-the-money in his three races after his last trip to Churchill. Most recently, Mendelssohn finished third behind Breeders' Cup Classic entrant Thunder Snow.

A repeat of his dizzying UAE Derby and Mendelssohn could finally win more prize money than his purchase price.

Mckinzie

Current Future Odds 6-1*

Jockey: Mike SmithTrainer: Bob Baffert

Mckinzie followed fellow entrant West Coast's footsteps winning the 2018 Pennsylvania Derby at PARX Race Track. Lifetime, the three-year-old has four wins and a second, amassing $906,000.

He'll look to build up his bankroll substantially at the Breeders' Cup Classic by replicating his September 22nd effort at PARX. He made it look easy, running right of the shoulder of the front-runner from the eight spot. Then he took up the leader at the turn, waited for Axelrod to challenge, and responded sharply when asked for more. He nearly bumped the rail, but straightened out his path to win impressively. Based on his last race, 7-1 looks like a good value at the moment.

West Coast

Current Future Odds 9-1*

Jockey: Mike SmithTrainer: Bob Baffert

Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic third place finisher ran second to Accelerate in the Awesome Again Stakes and will be looking for revenge on November 3rd. West Coast stalked the early leader at the 1/4 pole, had the lead at the half and heading into the stretch before Accelerate got the better of him.

West Coast will look to regain his 2017 Pennsylvania Derby winning ways at the Classic.

Thunder Snow

Current Future Odds 25-1*

Jockey: Christophe SoumillonTrainer: Saeed bin Suroor

Thunder Snow is an Irish-bred horse whose racing career got off to an inconspicuous start, winning his debut in a nondescript race and then failing to win in his next four races, all in Great Britain.

Thunder Snow made his US debut at the 2017 Kentucky Derby, where he was quarantined for two-days before getting on the Churchill track. It didn't go much better for him after that. Snow went off at 20-1 on a sloppy track, started bucking and kicking before being pulled up within the first furlong.

His second American effort and his last race went a little better, finishing second at the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont in September. He gave it up at the wire to the 45-1 Discreet Lover after passing the much heralded Diversify and Mendelssohn.

There you have a look at some of the early contenders for the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic. Of course, we'll have all of our picks, insights and analysis for all the 2018 Breeders' Cup races at Churchill Downs. Also, make sure you check back with us on a regular basis if you enjoyed this preview, as we'll be highlighting all of the key Breeders' Cup races in the days ahead.

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